Thanks to county for massive hike in water bill

Published May 18, 2004

Editor: I want to share this letter of thanks to the Hernando County commissioners with all the residents of Spring Hill whose water bills have substantially increased since the county purchased the utility.

I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you who fought so hard to purchase Florida Water Services, and second, say how wonderful it makes me feel to pay more than double what my water bill used to be. In fact, for the month of April, it increased 112 percent, when compared with my April 2003 charges ($62.42 versus $29.48). (By the way, I used less water in 2004.)

It is my understanding the reason for the increase was to make people conserve water. Yet, the commissioners approve every new subdivision and golf course request, indicating we have more water than we can use.

As you should know, most of us can't regulate the amount of rain we receive, and after years of trying to grow grass and flowers to keep things green and attractive, one must water occasionally.

Again, thanks to our government-run utilities. Aren't they the pits? Can you imagine what the commissioners would do if gasoline prices increased from $1.70 to $3.40 a gallon? They would be screaming that the oil companies are trying to get rich and exploit the poor, or that OPEC is out to break the U.S. But that's not different from what they did when they arbitrarily changed our water usage rates without public approval. It's just more money for the county to squander. Wonder what would happen if they took over the electric and telephone utilities.

Oh, that reminds me of our governor and the other watchful champions of the people who voted to have our telephone rates increased. Aren't we lucky?

I can't wait for the next election.

-- D.E. Tooman, Spring Hill

Commission shouldn't approve water rates

Editor: I sincerely hope that the County Commission does not pass the water rates proposed by the Hernando County Utilities Department.

Many residents are on fixed incomes and living check-to-check each month. It's bad enough that food and energy costs are rising, without adding ridiculous water rates, especially for the dry months of March, April, May and June.

If these rates are passed by the commission, my lawn will look like many others: dead and dry. I won't be able to afford the new rates.

-- S.E. Ross, Spring Hill

Outsiders: Stay out of Timber Pines' affairs

Re: Timber Pines set on sinking even lower, May 11 letter to the editor:

Editor: I'm writing in answer to Mr. Walter Tournat of Spring Hill, who calls all people living in Timber Pines snobs.

People who don't live in Timber Pines should keep their noses out of our business because we don't interfere with theirs. People on the outside only hear and listen to one side of a story - the one they'd like to repeat. I'd like you to know that 99 percent of the people in Timber Pines are not snobs. A large part of this group do all kinds of volunteer work. Most organizations in here donate money to different charitable funds.

Back to the case in point: This case has been going on for some time because some of the people in Timber Pines are fighting this rule, saying there must be an exception to every rule. But, as you know, if you break one you'll break more, and then you have problems.

We in Timber Pines are not snobs. We're being prejudged by people who are jealous of us. Anybody can move in here if they're 55 or older. We have healthy people, sick people, handicapped, etc. We have whites, blacks and Asians living here. We have rules like any big organization - otherwise you can't exist. You know the rules before you sign to play the game.

We're not happy about what's happened, but I'm sure it will be resolved to the satisfaction of everyone.

-- Ralph Montoro, Spring Hill

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